The Kildonan SchoolArmenia, New York
845-373-8111
Catherine A. Schantz www.kildonan.org

“Kildonan is a thriving coeducational boarding and day school
for students in grades two through twelve… who show evidence of
specific language based learning disabilities known as dyslexia,
who will benefit from individual remediation… While many Kildonan
students have had success in other aspects of life – sports, art,
jobs, and friendships – most have been frustrated in school.” They
encourage applications from students of average to superior intelligence
and operate on a rolling admissions basis. They require educational
and psychological testing, references and personal interviews to
ascertain that prospective students have no current behavioral
or substance abuse problems.

Kildonan uses a one-on-one tutorial approach based on the principles
of Orton-Gillingham language training, one of the “oldest and most
successful methods of teaching students with specific reading and
writing learning difficulties.” They have refined this classic
program by incorporating other “contemporary principles of remediation,
with the intent to emphasize the visual (see it), auditory (say
it), and kinesthetic (feel it), while teaching to a student’s potential.
This multi-sensory approach opens up an understanding of language.”

“In the first years at Kildonan each student meets with a tutor
daily and engages in intensive work in reading and writing skills…
In the final phase of tutoring, students work on independent study
skills and integrate skills learned in the tutorial with the study
of subject matter.” They encourage students to identify their learning
style and personal strategies that will “secure success” as they
continue on to other educational settings.

“In addition to providing the best language skills training,”
they offer, “well designed courses in science, mathematics, literature, and history… at several
levels to stimulate and challenge college-bound students.” In addition to their
elementary day program, they have a middle school program for full
boarding, five day boarding, and day students. It includes “individualized
remediation and preparation for high school through attention to
the process of learning.” Their average class size is
eight students. “Social and sporting events provide additional
time to share interests.” In the high school program, about seventy
five percent are full boarding students. It is designed to address
the “needs of adolescents wishing to prepare for post-secondary
education,” and includes working closely with teachers to “ensure
success across all fields of study… advancing to higher level courses as
quickly as possible and to build a foundation in their weaker subjects
by selecting courses with a slower pace.”

Many of the faculty members subscribe to the Academy of Orton-Gillingham
Practitioners and Educators, and assume many roles at the school as instructors,
coaches, advisors, dorm masters, mentors and role models. “All students attend
nightly supervised study halls best suited to their learning styles, and daytime
study halls supervised by members of the mathematics department." “Art
electives are exciting components of the students’ daily schedule.” “Each weekend
there are optional trips off campus, meals at faculty houses, art studio hours, and
community service projects. They also have alpine skiing and snowboarding.